Algae Outer HebridesThe accounts of individual species can be accessed through the indexes of scientific names, by using the search page, taxonomic list of families and genera or species index. The species gallery is a pictorial index to the species.
Desmids are unicellular, microscopic, green algae which are widely distributed in a variety of freshwater habitats, although they are typically found in clear oligotrophic water.
Taxonomically they are members the order Desmidiales with two sub-orders and numerous families. Although the cell-shape varies, they are characteristically symmetrical, often with two semi-cells joined by an isthmus, or ill-defined suture lines and can have a highly ornamented cell wall. The cell shape and texture are important characteristics used in the identification of desmids.
Over 900 species of desmids have been recorded in the British Isles but in the Outer Hebrides little is known about which species are present or their distribution. The only records on the NBN Atlas Scotland are those published by Outer Hebrides Biological Recording. The results of other surveys remain either unpublished or in the scientific literature.
This is a new project and we would appreciate records of species recorded in the islands or information on the sources of published material.
We would like to acknowledge the considerable help given by Koos Meesters, a leading continental desmidiologist, especially with sorting out errors in the early stages. He continues to provide advice and has offered to peer-review all new additions.